But, if they alike increase in beauty as they increase in age, their dispositions are as unlike as two opposites can be moulded.  Nicholas has inherited that petulant will, unbending determination, and lurking love of avenging wrong, so peculiar to the Indian race.  To restlessness he adds distrust of those around him; and when displeased, is not easily reconciled.  He is, however, tractable, and early evinced an aptitude for mechanical pursuits that would have done credit to maturer years.  Both have been at service, and during the period have created no small degree of admiration-Annette for her promising personal appearance, Nicholas for his precocious display of talent.  Both have earned their living; and now Nicholas is arrived at an age when his genius attracts purchasers.

Conspicuous among those who have been keeping an eye on the little fellow, is Mr. Jonathan Grabguy, a master-builder, largely engaged in rearing dwellings.  His father was a builder, and his mother used to help the workmen to make Venetian blinds.  Fortune showered her smiles upon their energies, and brought them negro property in great abundance.  Of this property they made much; the father of the present Mr. Grabguy (who became a distinguished mayor of the city) viewing it peculiarly profitable to use up his niggers in five years.  To this end he forced them to incessant toil, belabouring them with a weapon of raw hide, to which he gave the singular cognomen of “hell-fire.”  When extra punishment was-according to his policy-necessary to bring out the “digs,” he would lock them up in his cage (a sort of grated sentry-box, large enough to retain the body in an upright position), and when the duration of this punishment was satisfactory to his feelings, he would administer a counter quantity of stings with his “hell-fire” wattle.  Indeed, the elder Mr. Grabguy, who afterwards became “His Worship the Mayor,” was a wonderful disciplinarian, which very valuable traits of character his son retains in all their purity.  His acts deserve more specific notice than we are at present able to give them, inasmuch as by them the safety of a state is frequently endangered, as we shall show in the climax.

Our present Mr. Grabguy is a small man, somewhat slender of person, about five feet seven inches high, who usually dresses in the habiliments of a working man, and is remarkable for his quickness.  His features are dark and undefinable, marked with that thoughtfulness which applies only to the getting of wordly goods.  His face is narrow and careworn, with piercing brown eyes, high cheek bones, projecting nose and chin, low forehead, and greyish hair, which he parts in the centre.  These form the strongest index to his stubborn character; nevertheless he hopes, ere long, to reach the same distinguished position held by his venerable father, who, peace to his ashes! is dead.